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So Manal al Sharif, the girl who’s video I posted around ten days ago was arrested a few days after her posting that video. And released last night, nine days after her arrest. (may 21st-30th). In the meantime it seems the entire country has erupted into a chaotic endless, meaningless, fruitless debate between “the liberals” and “the islamists”. or so the “Islamists” would like it to seem.

I find that ridiculous. It’s not a religious issue, never was and never should have been. Plus there are plenty of religious Muslims who are pro-women driving. (Just check out the vid I’m posting below.) I don’t understand why “sheikh’s” opinions are brought into what is a purely social and legal matter. was her arrest legal? was her detainment legal? was what she did illegal? show us a law. The world of twitter, facebook, online forums , newspapers, youtube and TV channels have all been discussing this to no end. One brave woman had to pay the price for her initiative. Yet now the subject is on the front burner media0wise, with out a single “official” statement in sight to clarify anything. oh wait, there was one. Something from Prince Ahmed about a deceleration by the ministry of interior in 1990. But otherwise the people that matter have stayed very quite about this. I’, sure they’re observing very closely, but they’re refusing to take sides or make an official statement in any direction. Its almost like parents watching their kids fight and thinking “let them sort it out between themselves”. I’m providing a few links below, but I apologize in advance to my non-Arabic speaking friends, most of these debates were in Arabic. Which i guess can be a good thing, because then at least we know more of the majority of Saudi Arabia is involved and not just those with a western education.

One video that gave me goosebumps was a woman in Riyadh, Om Ibrahim, aged 25, who posted a video of herself driving in Riyadh, fully veiled, with her husband and children. What gave me goosebumps and cause me to laugh giddily with pride is what she wrote on that video :My name is Um Ibrahim AL Muqa6y, 25 years old, and I am a Bedouin in origin and roots and proud of it!”. (This video has been removed from youtube by the user, but not before another channel re-posted it!) Her statement was a lovely reply to the claims that the only women who wanted to drive were “liberals” and “not real Saudis” (whatever that is, as if if my origin weren’t Bedouin then I have no rights??!) who wanted our society to “fall into a cesspool of immorality” and weird stuff like that.They even went as far as personally attacking the women who’s names have been in the front lines of this struggle. attacking their reputation, their ethics, their morals, their way of life.

I find it highly immoral to try to demean and spread a smear campaign to ruin a woman’s reputation just because she has the courage to talk against what is wrong and demand something that is her human right. I hope there is a legal way to go after those haters, because that is exactly what they are.

All that drama in the past few days has actually depressed me. Made me want to curl up in bed and hibernate till the world is a better place. But I guess that’s just wishful thinking. The ball is rolling, things will have to change sooner or later, but it seems like this right won’t be given without a fight with those haters, and without a few casualties on the way.

On a positive note, I was touched by the amount of male thinkers, intellectuals, columnists and TV speakers who fully supported women’s right to drive. Its nice to see so many men, fathers, brothers and husbands who won’t bow down to social pressure and have lent their voices and pens in support of such a cause.

In a short summary, Its seems that even though 80% of viewers liked it, the remaining 20% were a lot more aggressive and vocal about their dislike and accused him of causing “fitna” (Internal unrest between people). As you can see, he’s a very nice and timid guy, so I guess those accusations scared him. He doesn’t want to cause “fitna” and decided to stay away from the subject. Not that he changed his mind or anything, he’s sticking to his opinion, just doesn’t want to see people fighting under his vid. I sent him a message saying he should have just disabled comments and not let the haters get their way.

okay… let’s see what’s next on my list… OH! the “Ya Hala” show from rotana tv… they can’t delete that, can they? lol. No the Show host is a pretty tough guy, I can’t imagine it would be easy to intimidate him…This show is also in Arabic, and I’m posting the link to part1 of 4. (you can always follow the links to the rest of the parts). He covered the whole drama in detail, bringing in judges lawyers thinkers and whatnot to discuss the legalities of this whole thing.

… anyhow.. that’s all for now. I’m exhausted. Will updates you with a part 2, since drama is never only one episode!